Time was running out for Kashiwagi.
Consequently, over the next few days, he was forced to compress his literacy classes and ramp up his training hours in the Underdome to familiarize himself with his Pokémon roster.
Since the tournament rules imposed no restrictions on battle formats, trainers occasionally practiced Double or Triple Battles. After all, the actual match would essentially be a no-holds-barred skirmish—a "wild" battle where the sole objective was to crush the opponent. Without some modicum of coordination, it would be incredibly embarrassing to accidentally sabotage a teammate during the chaos.
Fortunately, Chansey only required practice with her healing abilities and a boost to her courage, so she didn't add too much to his burden.
Finding the right niche really was half the battle.
Unsurprisingly, the massive Vibrava drew plenty of attention. Most looks were tinged with envy; after all, that high-ranking member had handed over the Pokémon in broad daylight.
Wasn't he just a bottom-feeder who crawled up from the mines? Why does he get special treatment?
Master Ryuka is a 'successor' just like us! We're supposed to be on the same side!
Had it not been for Kashiwagi's ominous declaration on the first day, the fact that Otsuka's group was already tight with him, and Ryuka's blatant favoritism, these jealous peers would likely have ganged up to ostracize Kashiwagi long ago.
Envy of talent is an inevitability in a place like this.
"People are so fickle," Kashiwagi sighed helplessly.
The world might change, but the awkward pettiness of adolescence remained constant. These teenagers had suppressed their hostility because of Ryuka's initial approval, only for it to sprout anew because Ryuka approved of him too much.
Of course, to Kashiwagi, this was just idle chatter between battles. He was far more concerned with the long-range move Aron had finally mastered after grueling effort:
Rock Tomb.
Initially, he had been aiming for Rock Slide. Every day, he'd begged Otsuka's Golem to act as a target and a tutor, throwing, pushing, and ramming large boulders for Aron. Somewhere along the way, the technique manifested as Rock Tomb instead.
"That's just how self-taught moves go. Only a 'Move Master' can learn exactly what they want every time," Otsuka said, trying to console him.
Kashiwagi raised an eyebrow. "A Move Master?"
"Yeah. Some people have unique training techniques that let a Pokémon learn a specific, predetermined move," Otsuka explained with a look of longing. "People like that hold a incredibly high status no matter where they go."
Ah, I see.
Kashiwagi's interest was piqued. He briefly considered posing as one of these "Move Masters" using the skill rewards from the simulator. But he dismissed the idea immediately—simulator rewards were unpredictable, and the cooldown between runs was too long. Wasting a learning opportunity on someone else would be a massive loss unless he was desperately short on cash or rolled a move he truly couldn't use.
"This works, too," Kashiwagi mused, patting Aron's head. Compared to Rock Slide, Rock Tomb had less raw power, but it could use its volume to pin an opponent down, effectively lowering their speed.
A standard utility move.
"Kwah!" Aron replied with a grin.
----
"I gave you so much time, and he's still unharmed?"
"A thousand apologies... the target is exceptionally vigilant. He rarely spends much time in the Underdome; he eats and rests on the surface. And with Ryuka..."
"I don't want to hear your excuses! Tell me, what do you plan to do next?"
"...I've already contacted our mole. I've successfully riled them up. Once the match starts, someone will be there to intercept him!"
"Hmph. For your sake, I hope so. If the match ends and I don't see his legs broken, I'll take yours instead!"
"Deepest apologies, sir!"
"Get out!"
"Yes, sir!"
In the shadows, a figure bowed and scraped repeatedly as if paying obeisance to a superior. It wasn't until the line went dead with a beep that he began to curse under his breath.
"Stupid bald freak! You have no idea how hard I'm working! Push, push, push! That's all you do!"
All that talk about striking at Soshiro's influence to prevent his unit from expanding... it was all just a cover for the fact that the boss couldn't handle losing face. The boss's petty schemes had failed and the news had spread everywhere; now that he couldn't sweep it under the rug, he was resorting to more conspiracies. What did that have to do with him?
Go find the idiot who messed up!
He didn't even have the guts to kill the guy, only to break his legs. Heh, pathetic. Utterly pathetic! If he weren't already stuck on this sinking ship, he'd have abandoned this small-minded "boss" long ago.
The life of a double agent was a miserable one.
----
"Watari! You've been in the bathroom forever! Do you need a hospital? Seriously, that could be a medical condition!"
"Coming, coming!"
Watari jumped, faking a belt-buckling motion as he stepped out of the dark alley to meet the curious gazes of Kashiwagi and Otsuka. "Hehe, sorry about that."
"Drink more water. Sometimes hydration solves a lot of problems," Kashiwagi said, patting Watari on the shoulder with paternal concern.
"I will, I will," Watari chuckled.
To defeat an enemy, one must understand them. Watari was a student of the "aesthetic of the backstab." He had found an opportunity to connect with Kashiwagi early on, taking advantage of the boy's isolation to quickly get close to him.
By now, Watari was fairly certain Kashiwagi trusted him completely. He occasionally fantasized about the spectacular look Kashiwagi would wear when the betrayal finally landed.
Would it be disbelief? Heartbreak? Or total despair?
"Hehehe..." Watari couldn't help but let out a creepy laugh, completely oblivious to the weird looks Kashiwagi and Otsuka were giving him.
'What's wrong with this kid?'
'No idea. You know how he is—it's a chronic thing.'
The two exchanged glances but didn't pay it much mind. The guy often spaced out and giggled to himself; they'd long ago accepted he wasn't quite right in the head.
They returned to the field and continued training until both trainers and Pokémon were exhausted.
Since acquiring Chansey, Aron's stamina had improved significantly. He was no longer hitting a wall after just a few rounds of sparring.
Kashiwagi had asked Aron if the daily battles were too much or if they should dial back the intensity. The little Steel-type had shaken his head vigorously, insisting it wasn't hard at all and that he could handle more.
Kashiwagi wasn't sure if the answer was entirely sincere. Aron had been abandoned before; it was highly likely he believed that if he didn't fight, he would lose his place by Kashiwagi's side. Because of this, Kashiwagi frequently had heart-to-heart talks with him, hoping to lift that psychological burden.
I just hope he's actually enjoying himself.
Still, whenever they won a match, the smile on Aron's face seemed genuine enough. His hard work had brought him up to Level 33. Starting from Level 28, with three level-up rewards and two levels earned through actual combat, his progress was nothing short of meteoric.
Chansey, after so many days of medical duty, had become quite proficient. Her habit of constant nervousness had improved drastically, though she still often needed a gentle "nudge" or a word of encouragement to act. That was fine for now, but in the long run, she needed to be independent. She needed to find her own courage.
"Training Pokémon really is a complex science," he mused, rubbing the two Poké Balls in his hand.
As the match approached, the tension among the young men and women in the facility became palpable. This anxiety bled over to the Pokémon, leading to frantic, impatient battles and clipped, urgent commands.
"Even I'm starting to feel a bit on edge."
Kashiwagi took a deep breath to steady himself. A trainer's state of mind affects their Pokémon. To ensure Aron and the others were at peak performance, he had to remain calm.
"Life or death... it all comes down to this one shot."